I upgraded my crappy '09 Eclipse control bar with a Liquid Force CPR push away quick release.
Basically, I turned a junk control bar into a brand new, top of the line control bar with a $50 (US) part.

Very simple modification. I highly recommend it, especially if you have a '09 Eclipse controls.

Saturday, I tested it on a 10 mile downwinder in 20-30 kts. The depower line can be adjusted so easily it's shocking. Glides like butter! Basically, I was in awe of the awesomeness of the upgrade.



Here is the deal, my Eclipse Kima's are good enough kites. However, the '09 Eclipse control bar is weak.
1. The depower is difficult to adjust on the beach, and impossible when needed on the water. I pretty much gave up on adjusting on the fly.
2. The safety never failed me, but it is still probably one of the worst.
3. The original throw is too short (for the Kima and Nano anyway).
4. The metal top of the release is all dented and sharp where it butts against the bar.
5. No corrosion like others have reported, but I ride in freshwater.

Now I have...
1. Smooth, easy depower adjustments
2. A working, Push Away, safety
3. Long throw
4. Auto orienting chicken loop
5. All plastic, can't corrode


Anyway, a lot of bar brands could probably be upgraded with this new LF CPR kit. But since I did it with my Eclipse '09, here are some specific pointers.

The white line under the Mickey Mouse ears can be reduced to 9" at the shortest. (Backsplice it to shorten.) It's originally about 22".
If the little white line is longer than 9", no problem, you'll just end up trimming away and shortening the supplied LF depower rope.
If the little white line is shorter than 9", then the supplied LF depower rope won't be long enough to keep all lines even. (The front lines will be too short, but the backs could always be shortened to even the lines again.)



The LF Stopper does NOT work with the Eclipse bar. Basically, the hole is too big on the bar to pinch the lines.

This is fine with me, as I prefer the Eclipse stopper for a couple of reasons.
*Bonus, the Eclipse stopper actually works better on the LF depower line than it did on the original Eclipse.

The Mini5th safety on the 2010 LF kites/controls isn't supplied in the retro kit. It would be simple to make your own though. I didn't put one in, but I might for my lady.

Here is the link to get one in the US. I don't know where you would get one in Australia.
http://motorcitykiteboarding.com/wp/?page_id=9&category=7&product_id=121

I hope this helps anybody who is sitting on a crappy '09 Eclipse bar.

Rorke
ps long time lurker, first time poster.

Looks like a good mod Rorke and well explained, thanks for sharing.

I don't think there would be to many 09 Eclise bars in Oz though, the Australian distributor was aware of issues with the 09 bar fairly early on so I believe went straight from the 08 to the 2010 bars both of which didn't really have any issues as far as I am aware (a couple of 09's may have slipped through though).
I use the 08 bars on all of my Kima's and Thrusters (above bar strap type depower)and except for snapping the mini fifth line on my most used bar I have not had any drama's despite heaps of use.
The 08 bars don't have a great deal of throw compared to some others out there however for me personally I find them perfect and think that they have more than enough.
I believe all the current Eclipse kites being sold in Australia come with the 2010 bars which have more throw than the 08 or 09's.

I will keep this mod in mind though if I do have any issues down the track.

Just got a phone call that said the price went up to $99.
I guess there has been increased interest recently. So the price went up.
Bummer. Sorry if anyone got unnecessarily stoked.
Still an upgrade to consider.

Whoaa...2010?
Is Eclipse still in business?

Tightlines,
You can see where my stopper is to limit my throw. It's nice to be able to depower over a foot without losing any of that.
The Kima flies very nicely depowered. Still turns ok anyway.
With my set up, it is possible to sheet out too much and perhaps invert the kite when depowering with too much load on the kite.
But when I pull onto a wave, and take some stress off the kite, that is when I can sheet it all the way out without risk of inversion.
But from what I have read on the forum, many feel this method of kite surfing is quite GAY.
Oh, well.

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Rorke said...

Whoaa...2010?
Is Eclipse still in business?

2010 bars from a company that has shown no sign of any 2010 products.

Perhaps it was a 2009 (B) model (I'm not too sure because as I said I'm happy using the 08 bar) but the ones that made there way to Oz didn't look like the one in the picture, they have above bar depower, and as far as I'm aware they dont have the corrossion issues of the 09 bar.

The eclipse dealer here in NZ removed my below the bar depower and fitted a cleat above the bar. Pulling on the depwer now is easy and you dont loose the bar travel like on 08 bars. He also removed the 09 chicken loop and fitted the 08 chicken loop. No problems now.

Nice post Rorke. I particularly like the "new awesomeness"

I also use the 2008 bar n lines. I'd like to extend the mini 5th so that bailing to the 5th depowers more than currently, but for normal riding, have found the standard depower on my short throw (straps above the bar) system ok for my Nanos. Could definately do with a bit more throw/depower on my Thruster tho.

Tops info, pics and all-round awesomeness.

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oscar1 said...

The eclipse dealer here in NZ removed my below the bar depower and fitted a cleat above the bar. Pulling on the depwer now is easy and you dont loose the bar travel like on 08 bars. He also removed the 09 chicken loop and fitted the 08 chicken loop. No problems now.

Sounds like a great dealer!

The saga continues (there is more info) at our local forum. (I hope it's cool to link)
www.chicagokitesurfing.com/kiteboarding_messageboard/viewtopic.php?t=8707

Thanks for the compliments

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RAL INN said...

Rorke said...

Whoaa...2010?
Is Eclipse still in business?

2010 bars from a company that has shown no sign of any 2010 products.

Seems to be correct actually. The eclipse webby is still touting the 09 kites and talking of the "3rd year in production".

Not all bad tho, all 3 kites are pretty kn good and unlike some companies they have not stuffed the design by changing for the sake of marketing (thinking this years Switchblade here).

The eclipse admin still seems to be a joke tho. Good thing there are forums and kiters out there determined to improve on the original, speshly if it ups the safety.

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getfunky said...
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Not all bad tho, all 3 kites are pretty kn good and unlike some companies they have not stuffed the design by changing for the sake of marketing (thinking this years Switchblade here).

The eclipse admin still seems to be a joke tho. Good thing there are forums and kiters out there determined to improve on the original, speshly if it ups the safety.

amusing! seeing as the 09 designs were never paid for so never released, so the 09's are 08's with tweaked bridles to improve relaunch. the big prob with the 09 bars was a cost cutting change in spec ( by Eclipse) that used a low grade coating on the QR.
hence the corrosion and using 08 QR's as the fix.
The kima is an upsized 08 6m Nano.

with the Nth Hemi season well under way and as yet nothing from Eclipse. you can safely say they have gone away.

Dimitri's Epic Kites are in fact what would be 2 generations on from 09 thrusters, and show it.